n't ever forget it,
and--father won't, either," he said. His voice trembled, and yet
there was a certain doggedness in it.

Charlotte stood waiting. Barney turned slowly away. "Good-night," he
said.

"Good-night," returned Charlotte, quickly, and she fairly sprang away
from him and down the road. Her limbs trembled, but she held her head
up proudly. She understood it all perfectly. Barney had meant to
inform her that his behavior towards her on the day his mother died
had been due to a momentary weakness; that she was to expect nothing
further. She went on to the store and did her errand, then went home.
As she entered the kitchen her mother came through from the front
room. She had been sitting at a window watching for Charlotte to
return; she thought Barney might be with her.

"Well, you've got home," said she, and it sounded like a question.

"Yes," said Charlotte. She laid her parcels on the table. "I guess
I'll go to bed," she added.

"Why, it's dreadful early to go to bed, ain't it?"

"Well, I'm tired; I guess I'll go."

The candle-light was dim in the room, but Sarah eyed her daughter
sharply. She thought she looked pale.

"Did you meet anybody?" she asked.

"I don't know; there wasn't many folks out."

"You didn't see Barney, did you?"

"Yes, I met him."

Charlotte lighted another candle, and opened the door.

"Look here," said her mother.

"Well?" replied Charlotte, with a sort of despairing patience.

"What did he say to you? I want to know."

"He didn't say much of anything. He thanked me for what I did about
his mother."

"Didn't he say anything about anything else?"

"No, he didn't." Charlotte went out, shielding her candle.

"You don't mean that he didn't say anything, after the way he acted
that day his mother died?"

"I didn't expect him to say anything."

"He's treated you mean, Charlotte," her mother cried out, with a half
sob. "He'd ought to be strung up after he acted so, huggin' an'
kissin' you right before folk's face and eyes."

"It was more my fault than 'twas his," returned Charlotte; and she
shut the door.

"Then I should think you'd be ashamed of yourself," Sarah called
after her, but Charlotte did not seem to hear.

"I never see such work, for my part," Sarah wailed out to herself.

"Mother, you come in here a minute," Cephas called out of the
bedroom. He had gone to bed soon after supper.

"Anythin' new about Barney?" he asked, when his wife stood beside
h